[jaunt] [mid-week 3; 18th day of the fish] Twisting a few relevant knives

[fearinahandfulof]

[Casssandra's just going to get right to the point.]

I just spoke with Lian. He's a Thalassian spy working for the Dread Empress.

Comments

[ninjayeehaw]

I got him.

[There's a cold certainty to his tone, with no room for discussion.

There might be some of Teruo's feelings mixing in on the matter, if he's being honest with himself, but he's not about to let another spy ruin everything for these people.]

[fearinahandfulof]

[Telling him she has misgivings about this is probably pointless, isn't it?]

He's looking for other mermaids now. I don't think he was expecting the Crownbreaker mermaids to be here. He thinks the red tide was meant to drive them into the open, which suggests he wasn't responsible for it.

[ninjayeehaw]

[Unfortunately yes, but he will take them under consideration.]

Might well could be She sent that one herself, then, flushin' out the area as a precaution. I can keep my knowin' that fact on him close t'the chest 'less he needs the extra promptin' t'be honest.

[fearinahandfulof]

I think he's been away for a while. The codes he used on me were old.

[ninjayeehaw]

...I was wonderin' 'bout that. Heard him mumblin' somethin' when I caught up with him last week, didn't make sense if it was just him talkin' nonsense, but if it was half 'f a code...

[Then Kinjj failed that test pre-emptively.]

[fearinahandfulof]

Spies of the empress have check-in passwords that they're supposed to use with other spies. He was probably waiting for you to state yours.

[ninjayeehaw]

'splains why he was so quick t'end that particular conversation. Didn't wanna go dealin' with some unknown asshole on his own.

[fearinahandfulof]

And killing you would have drawn attention he couldn't afford.

[ninjayeehaw]

Not now it won't - he thinks he's got an accomplice.

[fearinahandfulof]

...

[ninjayeehaw]

[His tone finally softens, and he gives the mental equivalent of a soft sigh.]

Like hell is Yakumo's overlay gonna kill me, Cass. I'm a Ninninger - not dyin' against all odds is somethin' I've gotten mighty good at over the years.

'sides, Yakumo sure as hell won't let me live if it down if he does. That's good incentive right there.

[fearinahandfulof]

He's not Yakumo now, though. And we don't know the extent of his capabilities, or even his true icon. The power Alexandra got from the empress was shaped by her own gifts and tendencies, and the same can probably be said for him. And I don't think he's nearly as conflicted as Alexandra was; he seems like a true believer.

[She doesn't think this will dissuade Kinji in the slightest, but she still feels that it needs to be pointed out.]

[ninjayeehaw]

[Valid points.]

I know he's got that hypnosis trick. If he can Sing, I can real likely out-Sing him, ain't too many folks can match Teruo's skill. An' if he ain't gonna hesitate, neither am I. Rest I'll just have t'learn on the fly, same as ever.

[Treat him the same as any other crafty Youkai, and he should be right.]

[fearinahandfulof]

[This still seems like a bad idea to her, but... fine. She's voiced her objections.]

Just... be careful. As much as you can.

I wonder what his crew would think if they knew who he was. I don't know how much they'd care about the mermaids' own conflict, but they might not appreciate him using them to help his goals.